Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-26
paper of that name from fellow-ped-

paper of that name from fellow-ped-
dler.
"Who did you give it to-" asked
the president. raising his voice above
the din. which was just then ear-split-
ting. Now shet up. the hull of ye.
and let Hockey tell what's to pay.
'Nuther one of your cock-and-bull sto-
ries. l s'pose; but drive ahead. Hockey.
SOS We can get to business some time
in the course of the night
swell, boss" said Hockey, with
great elaboration, '.it's gal wot we
give it to-"
"A gal!' exclaimed Bill looking
around upon the little company. 'You
don't mean to tell me. boys, that any
of you has been and gone and struck a
gal, do We? Let me tell you what the
great Mr.. Shakespeare says or that sub
ject. Any Teller that ever gifts up his
muscle to give it to a woman, or gal,
which means the same thing. is fit for
treason. strategy and spiles. That's
what he says. You know what treason
is, boys. for told you t'other night"
''Short Jack punched her little, be-
cause she wouldn't give up the papers. :"
continued Hockey. "You see, the fust
thing we knowed, this girl was a.
hollerin' Herald. Sun and Times jist
like an old hand. We couldn't STAN
by an let a gal take our work away
from, could 1,,o
THAT alters the case" said the pres
ident, thoughtfully; ''but you'd no
business to "a punched her, Juck.
That's going little too far. Take
your places now. and I'll see who
knows the most about the multiplied
ton Table. We can't waste our time
talking about gals"
Nothing could be more unique than
that recitation. The boys gathered
about that table. eight of them occu-
pying the stools, the rest standing until
Shanghai Bill should give the word to
change. There was always good order
in this college. Ignorant and uncouth
though the teacher was. there was yet
subtle something which compelled
Obedience-a sort of irresistible mag
netism which held the unruly boys in
an iron grip
So on this, as on every other Occa-
sion, every thing went on decorously.
No vulgar or profane language was al
lowed in the college, and no tobacco,
and this school had been found a
means of grace and dcllverance to
many a benighted newsboy. Many
were the moral lectures delivered by
the earnest president, and not one OF
them ever failed to interest.
So the multiplication table passed
around from mouth to mouth, suffer-
ing a good deal as it went, but show
ing an unruffled front when they were
all through with it. When the boys
enthusiasm and good-natured rivalry
had reached their height, sudden in
terruption occurred which effectually
banished the multiplication table for
that evening.
Shanghai Bills college was situated
on the fifth floor of building once
used as brewery, but now condemned
as unsafe, and consequently abandoned
by every one but Bill, who was deter
mined to remain till he was ''druv out
by the law" No such step had been
taken, and Bill remained unmolested.
The boys had been SO thoroughly
engrossed by their occupation that
they had not heard the door open. nor
had they noticed that stranger had
entered the room. Short Jack was the
first one made aware of the intruder,
and this by smart slap on his ear,
which brought him to his feet, too
much surprised to utter a word. The
president pushed his glasses onto his
forehead, rose. and looked about him.
THAT was the blackguard that
struck me this morning. an I've give
| it back to him." said the newcomer,
in clear tones.
BY this time the boys had recovered
from their CONSERVATION. and cries of
PUT her out! put her out!' came from
all SlucS.
"Shet up. will yep said the presi-
dent. in authoritative tones, interpOs-
ing his long right arm to keep Short
Jack from returning the blow. "Hold
on now." he continued. It'll I get at
the right of this yarn. You're the gal
that tried to get the boys honest bust
ness away from 'em. amt ye?"
I'm the gal that's tryin' to do an
honest business for myself" replied
the stranger, folding her arms and
looking scornfully about her. There
she stood-a girl of fourteen. perhaps,
tall and slight, ragged and most in
efficiently clad, but scrupulousiy clean.
Her eyes were large and. in the light of